More police-file access proposed

By HECTOR CASTRO, P-I REPORTER

Published 10:00 pm, Tuesday, May 2, 2006

A new law proposed Tuesday would give the watchdog group that oversees police internal investigations more access to files on officer complaints, something members of that board have sought for several years.

Board members have to sign agreements not to disclose officer names they come across while reviewing files involving complaints against police. But since the board was created, all files have had any identifying information blacked out.

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In essence, Holmes said, board members were told they could not disclose information they never had in the first place.

But board members have said the files, with large portions blacked out, are cumbersome to read and don't allow for a thorough review of the OPA's work.

Although police officers have a right to privacy, citizens have rights, too, Holmes said.

"Citizens have the right to know what is going (on) in their law enforcement department," he said.

At the council's committee on public safety meeting Tuesday, Councilman Nick Licata proposed an ordinance that would allow board members access to complete files. At the same time, the board members would continue to be bound by their confidentiality agreements from disclosing any of this information.

Still, the move is opposed by the Seattle Police Officers' Guild, which believes the OPA review board does not need complete files and, additionally, that the issue is one that has to be decided during contract negotiations and cannot simply be legislated. The ordinance next will be considered by the full City Council.

The same proposed ordinance would protect the review board members in the event they were sued for any report they issue. Because of concerns that they would be held liable without protection from the city, the review board has not released any reports in three years.